Pencil dividing device



Oct. 7,1969 PH 3,470,774

PENCIL, DIVIDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1967 II/IIIIIIII III INVENTOR.

(ail/er? f1 Phelps HTIWRNEY,

United States Patent US. Cl. 82-46 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine which divides pencils of double length into single lengths by causing the pencils to advance along the hollow ground cutting edge of an inclined blade while causing the pencils to rotate about their axes. Thepencils are moved along the blade edge by means of an endless belt at least the surface of which is formed of rubber.

The invention relates generally to cutting devices and particularly to devices for severing rods. It finds .particular utility when employed to divide pencils which are normally formed twice standard pencil length into standard pencil lengths such as are sold in the trade.

The need for the present invention results from the fact that with known pencil severing devices, a saw or the equivalent is employed to divide the pencil into two parts. Such severing devices cause considerable dust and moreover produce pencils with uneven edges where so cut.

It is, accordingly, a primary object of the present invention to provide a pencil dividing machine which in operation will be free from producing dust.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pencil dividing machine which produces pencils having smooth edges.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pencil dividing machine which produces pencils having rounded ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pencil dividing machine which is capable of dividing pencils at a faster rate than that of other machines.

Yet another object of the invention is to produce a pencil dividing machine which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth will become apparent after reading the following detailed description. Such description relates to the annexed drawings presenting a preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention with the drive belt shown broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view showing several pencils, respectively, advanced different amounts along an inclined blade.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing the overlapping relationship of the hold down rollers.

Referring now to the drawings, it is to be noted initially that FIGURE 1 illustrates pencils P arriving from a previous pencil forming operation and being advanced along a longitudinally extending horizontal supporting surface to the drive belt 12.

The drive belt 12 is endless and extends around guide spools or pulleys 14, 14', preferably of steel, which are mounted on guide spool shafts 15. The drive belt 12 has a portion 17 which extends horizontally above a pencil dividing blade 26. The belt 12 may be fabricated entirely of rubber. However, it has been found desirable to form the belt of an inner portion 16 of any suitable material and an outer pencil engaging surface 18 of rubber.

The longitudinally extending supporting surface 10 is formed by two portions or pads 20 and 22 of rubber, preferably, of the same density as the rubber of belt 12. The pads are separated by space 24. Extending along and within space 24 is an inclined cut-ting blade 26. Blade 26 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed hollow ground faces 28 which terminate in a cutting edge 30.

A series of pressure hold down rollers 32 each mounted on a shaft 34, are supported by ball bearings and are arranged in overlapping relationship between the guide spools 14, 14'. These hold down rollers 32 extend completely across belt 12 and comprise first pairs of spaced roller members 36, 36' and second pairs of spaced roller members 37, 37 positioned to apply pressure to the face of the belt opposite the face that engages the pencils.

A pencil dividing blade 26 extends along the space 24 and is inclined upwardly from a first point A to a second point B. The distance of the edge of the blade A to the lower surface of the belt 12 is substantially equal to the diameter of a pencil while the distance of the point B to the lower surface of the belt 12 is substantially equal to the radius of a pencil.

In operation pencils of double standard length are advanced from a previous pencil forming operation along horizontal surface 10 until they reach the belt 12 which is being driven in a counter-clockwise direction over guide spools or pulleys 14, 14' until they reach the edge of the cutting blade 26. At this point, indicated on FIGURE 1 of the drawings as A, pressure produced by the hold down rollers 32 on the belt 12 causes the pencils to be forced against and at right angles to the cutting edge 30 of the blade 26. The counter-clockwise movement of the belt 12 in conjunction with the engagement of the pencils with the edge 30 of the blade 12 causes the pencils to advance along the edge 30 of the blade while rotating them about their axes producing a deeper and deeper cut, as shown in FIGURE 4, until the pencils are completely severed. By reason of the hollow ground faces of the cutting blade, the pencils are formed with rounded smooth ends. Moreover, due to the hollow ground faces 26 of the blade and the gradual cutting action which results during rotation of the pencils while advancing along the inclined cutting edge 30 of the blade, little, if any, dust is formed.

After reading the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that the objects of the invention set forth initially have been successfully achieved. Accordingly- What is claimed is:

1. A pencil dividing machine comprising a supporting member having a substantially horizontal surface thereon over which pencils pass from a receiving end thereof to a delivery end; belt means positioned adjacent to and extending longitudinally along and above said horizontal surface; said belt means being arranged and positioned to advance pencils disposed at right angles to said belt means from the receiving end of said horizontal surface to the delivery end thereof while rota-ting said pencils about their respective axes; means for applying pressure to said belt means in a direction toward said horizontal surface; said means for applying pressure to said belt means comprises a plurality of roller means arranged in overlapping relation longitudinally along the belt means and supported so as to contact the face of the belt means opposite the pencil engaging surface thereof and a cutting blade having a cutting blade extending longitudinally from a first point relative to said horizontal surface to a second point relative thereto and inclined upwardly in the direction of said delivery end of said horizontal surface; the first point being spaced from said belt means a distance at least equal to the radius of a pencil.

2. A pencil dividing machine as in claim 1 wherein said belt means is continuous and spool means are provided to guide said belt means.

3. A pencil dividing machine as in claim 2 wherein at least the pencil engaging surface of the belt means is formed of rubber.

4. A pencil dividing machine as in claim 1 wherein longitudinally extending rubber pads are mounted on 10 either side of the cutting blade.

5. A pencil dividing machine as in claim 4 wherein the rubber in said pads is of the same density as the rubber on the drive belt means.

6. A pencil dividing machine as in claim 1 wherein the roller means extend transversely across the belt means.

7. A pencil dividing machine as in claim 1 wherein the cutting blade is hollow ground.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,711,363 4/1929 Pleger 83-409 2,357,846 9/1944 Perkins 83-431 2,566,112 8/1951 Barnard 30-357 FOREIGN PATENTS 927,897 5/ 1955 Germany.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner I. F. COAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

